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Proposed Budget

Proposed Budget 2018/2019

The City of Greater Bendigo’s 2018/2019 proposed budget is now out for public comment.

This year we have combined the Budget and Annual Plan which represent Council’s plan for our community for the financial year and demonstrate how both documents work together, delivering on the Community Plan

The Budget includes a $40.5M investment in new projects and maintaining and renewing existing infrastructure. The Budget also invests $183.1M in continuing to fund important services for our community through the operating Budget.

This includes services as diverse as maternal and child health, waste collection, street cleaning, road and footpath maintenance and funding the Bendigo Art Gallery, the Capital Theatre and Ulumbarra.

Another key role of Council which is included in our annual budget, is money for maintenance of infrastructure like roads, footpaths and drains. Overall $30.6M will be invested in renewing the City’s assets.

The proposed Budget includes a rate increase of 2.25 per cent, which is in line with the Victorian Government’s rate cap. Over time, the State Government’s rate cap will put pressure on the City’s financial sustainability and capacity to continue to deliver services and infrastructure to our growing community.

Residents will see a rise in general waste and recycling charges in response to changes in global recycling markets, landfill remediation and the increasing cost of landfill charges levied by the Environmental Protection Authority. Across Victoria, Councils are dealing with changes in global recycling markets and have had to increase charges in order to continue to responsibly dispose of recyclable waste.

Some of the key projects receiving funding in the budget include Garden Gully Hockey Pavilion, the Queen Elizabeth Oval netball change rooms, the start of construction of the Ironbark Gully Trail and a CBD pop-up park. Significant works in rural areas include a new pedestrian bridge over McIvor Creek adjacent to Chauncey Street in Heathcote) and oval lighting for the Elmore recreation reserve.